Focus On Government Efficiency

January 30, 1985

A ``MINI-GRACE Commission`` for Palm Beach County government is being organized and could turn out to be an excellent way to trim fat and save money -- as long as commission members understand their role. They should focus on efficiency in government and not drift into trying to set government policy.

The real Grace Commission, established by President Ronald Reagan and headed by J. Peter Grace, was made up of top executives in business and other private organizations who found nearly 2,500 ways the federal government could reduce operating costs by $424 billion over three years. Palm Beach County Commission Chairman Ken Adams earlier this month suggested that representatives of leading businesses should be asked to serve on a committee to review the county government`s financial operations. An organizational meeting is set for Thursday night.

Adams calls this ``something like a mini-Grace Commission.`` If the seven to 10 persons who eventually are picked as commission members limit themselves to their expertise of business efficiency and finding ways to transfer that kind of efficiency to government, the commission could work well. If, however, they step into the area of government policy, they will have stepped out of bounds.

Elected government officials are responsible for setting policy, and the public should insist that no one else do so.

Two other cautions come to mind about the mini-Grace Commission. Its membership should consist of business leaders with impeccable reputations.

And the commission should self-destruct when its report is finished, which ought to be in a specified, limited time, perhaps a year or 18 months.